RTS Kit -- Environmental Sounds "broken" ?!

Well, it seems that in there attempt to "save network bandwidth" on the RTS Kit ... it was decided to disable all the PlayAudio code between client/server.

Figured out how to hack around this to get player sounds to work ... using serverPlay3D()

However, I just added lightning and rain to a mission ... and now realize that by disabling PlayAudio -- all of the environment sounds are essentially "broken".

So, need some help to figure out a solution;
(a) How to re-enable the playAudio code (since "stock" the RTS kit doesn't work multi-player anyhow - why care about network traffic)
or
(b) Replace the code with something like serverPlay3D() commands...
or
(c) Somehow make all this happen client side ... if that is possible. I think this could be the best solution, perhaps going so far as making all the footsteps, environment, etc sounds -- are client initiated, since they don't affect game play.

AS-IS ... the "stock" RTS kit is very much lacking on sound ... in fact, the only sound you will hear is the crossbow bolt explosion.